Behind the Camera (Complete✅)

Chapter 26 -"Patch up pictures part 2..."

The café is almost empty. Still, Nandini and Komolika are wrapping their heads and faces with scarfs. This is the biggest disadvantage of being a celebrity. For the last 15 minutes, Nandini is muddling on her food. The silence is awkward. But she doesn't understand where she should start from. Komolika Khanna eventually makes it easy,

"I am sure you haven't come to meet me to just say sorry. Nandini, you can feel free. It will be between us only."

Nandini stops her fingers from moving on the sandwich and eagerly replies,

"But Komolika, it's not about us. It's about you and Manik."

The line brings instant lines on Komolika's forehead. With clenched jaws, she mouths,

"Please, Nandini. If you again want to talk about the night when you saw me in Manik's bedroom; then I am not ready to give you any explanation. I know what was my intention and I know what bond I share with him. If I need to explain my relationship with him to anybody then I think it is disgraceful for me and for Manik too."

Nandini intervenes immediately,

"No, Komolika you don't know what bond you share with Manik. I am sorry that I suspected your true friendship but there is something more than that. I don't know whether I should tell you all this or not but I think you should know this."

She pauses for a moment and continues,

"Manik is suffering. I know he is dying to say all this to you but he will never. Komolika....Manik and you...I mean..you both are more than just friends. You...you are his half-sister. His father Mr Shrikant Malhotra is your father too. You are his only family but the cosmic irony is, he is fearing to tell you all this in the anticipation that you may leave him. He is dying to call you his sister but he is running away from this reality. Please, Komolika...accept him as your brother. He loves you a lot."

Nandini squeezes Komolika's hand in deep expectation. Her eyes are emoting love for Manik. Komolika keeps fixing her Khloe eyes to hers. Too many emotions are passing on her face.

"And you love him a lot too. Now, I am happy to see that someone is there who can take care of my whimsical, stubborn yet innocent from heart brother."

She halts for a brief moment. Nandini's eyes flicker in suspicion. Komolika notices that and smiles.

"Yes, Nandini. You guessed right. I already knew that we are connected with blood relations. My Mom uttered the name of my opportunist and escapist father for the first and the last time in front of me when she was on her deathbed. She also knew about Manik and asked me to tell him about my real identity. But I never dared. The reason was the same. I was fearing to lose him as my best friend. Thank you, Nandini for breaking the ice. You know I am also dying to call him my brother. He is the only family member I have."

Komolika's voice cracks in emotion. She feels the pressure on her hand becoming tighter.

"Let's go Komolika. It's high time to accept this truth for both of you. Come with me."

Nandini eagerly says and pulls her hand to get up from the chair. However, a tug in her hand makes her forehead lined. Jest flickers past Komolika's eyes. She innocently mouths,

"Only one condition. You have to call me Komi too. Komolika is too long for your beloved sister-in-law."

Four pairs of eyes blink in unison. Nandini teasingly replies,

"Beloved and bold....ha....ha...I am ready. Now, can we move? Your innocent brother is equally expert in troubling me. Tomorrow is the last date of our shooting. After that, he will leave for Amsterdam for two weeks. I want him to be tension free before that."

Komolika rises from her seat and grabs Nandini's hand more tightly. Her eyes are beaming with mischief.

"Two weekssss! How will he manage his goodnight sleep without you? Hmmmm?"

She nudges Nandini teasingly while utters with a naughty wink. Nandini gapes in surprise,

"Goodnight sleeps! You know?"

Her cheeks become light pinkish. Komolika giggles and replies,

"Of course. Before brother, he is my best friend. He told me everything. Hat's off to you, Nandini. You didn't give up on him and eventually won his heart again."

Nandini bites her lower lip and murmurs,

"It was worth winning."

..................................................

"Where is Manik?"

Nandini asks roaming her eyes everywhere on the floor. One of the spot boys comes closer.

"He is in his vanity, Ma'am. He forbade everyone to disturb him."

He informs. Komolika rolls her eyes at him and proudly retorts,

"We are licensed to disturb him...anytime. Come...let's see what is again bothering him."

She yanks Nandini and heads Manik's vanity van. It's afternoon. It's a bit weird for Manik to shut himself in the vanity at this time. Nandini hesitates a bit to knock. With a scoff, Komolika bangs on the door as a formality and then twists the latch to enter.

"Didn't I ask you to not disturb me? Go away!"

Manik's irked voice hits their eardrums. They notice him reclining on the couch wearing the eye mask.

"Sorry! But we won't because you are already disturbed and we want to know the reason."

Komolika's words don't make any change in Manik's reaction. He remains reclined on the couch. But Nandini's baffled voice makes him remove the eye mask. He observes Nandini standing near the table, holding a newspaper in her hand.

"Love triangle in Bollywood? Yesterday on the set of 'Pyaar ya Kalank', Manik Malhotra and Arnav Singh Raizada were seen fighting over Bollywood tragedy queen Nandini Murthy. Is it the beginning of a new love triangle? As we all know renowned producer Arnav Singh Raizada is already married and Superstar Manik Malhotra never cleared his relationship status. His relationship with Nandini Murthy is still under the scanner of their fans. In this situation, what will be her choice? Old flame or new love? Well, we all will be waiting for her answer."

Nandini reads the column a couple of times and then slams the paper on the table.

"RUBBISH...."

She chides in pique. Manik looks at Komolika and then fixes his eyes on Nandini.

"Yes, rubbish and we have to stop this rubbish to spread. I have called a press conference day after tomorrow. Nandini, I want you there."

Author's note: What will Manik say in the press conference? Will he accept his relationship with Nandini or again he will hurt her emotion? What will be his reaction after knowing that Komolika has accepted him as her brother? To know all these, keep reading. ❤❤